prominent
Americanadjective
-
standing out so as to be seen easily; particularly noticeable; conspicuous.
Her eyes are her most prominent feature.
- Antonyms:
- inconspicuous, unobtrusive
-
standing out beyond the adjacent surface or line; projecting.
- Synonyms:
- protuberant, obvious
-
leading, important, or well-known.
a prominent citizen.
- Synonyms:
- distinguished, renowned, famed, famous, celebrated, eminent
adjective
-
jutting or projecting outwards
-
standing out from its surroundings; noticeable
-
widely known; eminent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prominent
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin prōminent- (stem of prōminēns ), present participle of prominēre “to project, stand out,” equivalent to pro- pro- 1 + -minēre; see imminent
Explanation
If you're looking for an adjective that means "sticking out above the rest; famous," consider prominent. A prominent person might be the big star, the head honcho, the top dog — not just any ordinary person. A prominence is anything that juts out, like a bone or a mountain ridge. Prominent, then, means "sticking out" either in a literal sense ("a prominent nose") or a figurative one ("a prominent figure in the industry"). The metaphorical sense of "famous" is the most common one today, so you're more likely to hear about prominent people than prominent noses.
Vocabulary lists containing prominent
List 1
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Power Prefix: pro
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And so people associated with Turning Point USA and the Daily Wire continue to decry Owens and other prominent conspiracy-theory content creators as vultures.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
But Jordan’s role is now becoming too prominent to obscure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Dates are saccharine — they’ve got rich, prominent notes of honey, caramel and warm vanilla, which are indeed delectable, yet can be pretty intense on the palate.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Her name as a possible presidential nominee was first put forward in an open letter signed by sixteen prominent Hungarians, including the inventor of the Rubik's Cube, Erno Rubik.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Taken at a ceremony in 1924, it was a panoramic view of members of the tribe alongside prominent local white businessmen and leaders.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
